Yes, I know….everyone knows that Nicole is one of the judges on the X-Factor. It’s common knowledge and lots of you watch the show. I’m not one who watches the show because I’m over singing competitions, especially those that include Simon Cowell. I only have room for AI and the Voice.

ANYWAY, the reason why I decided to pick up the “Where are they now” method of killing time between seasons is because I found this video from this past weekend of Nicole singing at the Royal Variety Show in London. Singing Opera…as in Christine from Phantom of the Opera. When Nicole said she is a trained singer, she wasn’t kidding – she KILLED this. No lip syncing, per one of her Phantoms. Perhaps all future XF contestants should watch this and then not even try out if they can’t measure up. This lady is more than a singer from a girl band. Of course, it helps if you just love musical theater and Phantom of the Opera. I actually get misty. 😉

I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)

Last night, Val taught a master class at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Princeton, New Jersey in collaboration with Dance With Me Dance Studios. Looks like the event was a huge success. You can view lots of cool photos with Val and all of the people who showed up here. In interested, Val and Maks will be teaching another class at Dance With Me SoHo on December 17 and 18. For details, visit Dance With Me Studios. Lots is happening currently before and after the holidays.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.

Missing Edyta Sliwinska and Alec Mazo like I am? As some of you may remember from our past postings, the two produced a new show this past year called “Dance Temptation” which they premiered in Niagara Falls over the summer. Well, something is very much in the works again. Edyta tweeted that as soon as Alec is finished with school, they plan to hit the road again with it again next summer. Be sure to watch this space closely for more information on the show when they time gets closer. For now, enjoy the stunning new “Dance Temptation” Poster (seen above) and some scenes from the show below….

I so want to see this and I hope they take it to every major city in North America!!!

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.

A few of our current and past cast members of Dancing With The Stars made some of the “end of the year” 2011 “Best of” lists. First of all, give it up for Tristan MacManus!! He made TV Guide’s “2011 Best Breakout Stars” list. Below is what they said about him. Check the link to see who else made TV Guide’s cut.

It’s only fitting that Dancing added a lucky charm in Season 13. As the two other new pros fell by the wayside in the first two weeks, Tristan took Nancy Grace all the way to the quarterfinals, charming the pants off us with his wit, Irish brogue and boyishly handsome looks, all the while doing what seemed to be impossible: bringing out Grace’s sexy and funny sides. And hey, it’s not every day that a pro, much less a new one, gets to be the focus of a Dancecenter ad.

It would be a huge mistake for the powers that be of Dancing With The Stars not to hire Tristan back for another season, wouldn’t it?

Also, Karina Smirnoff, Mark Ballas, Julianne Hough, and Brooke Burke have all made New York Daily’s 2011 Sexiest Swimsuit Body List. Below is Karina coming in at 6th place. Julianne comes in at 27th, Mark at 29th, and Brooke Burke at 31st if you’d like to view them all at the link.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.